Chair convertible to bed



April 11, 1950 J. E. VAN CAMP CHAIR CONVERTIBLE TO BED 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 29, 1945 I T m r \\L V A [MA 2% .T M m 0 3 a M a w v M a 1April 1950 J. E. VAN CAMP 2,503,527

CHAIR CONVERTIBLE T0 BED Filed Jan. 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HVVENTUR.

BY MM/M Patented Apr. 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAIR-CONVERTIBLE TOBED John E. Van Camp, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 29, 1945, 'Serial'No. 575,028

3 Claims.

1 llhis invention relates to-an article ofi'urniture andhas particularreference to :an article of furniture useful either as a chair or as abed or couch. It is a general object of my present invention to providean article of furniture :of the general character referred to which .iscomfort- .zable when usedeither as a bed or as a chair, and

which "parts are interconnected and related so thatthey are operablebetween a position where they form a continuous horizontal structure inthe form of a :bed, and a position where the front extension isperpendicular and forms the front of the chair while the back issubstantially perpendicular and forms the back of the chair.

A general object of my present invention is to provide an extremelysimple, inexpensive mechanism-for mounting andinterconnecting theprincipal parts of the structure above referred to. By my presentinvention I provide few simple inexpensive parts which serve topivotally mount the front extension and the back and to inter-- connectthese parts so that they'work together.

Another object of .my present invention is to provide a unique,automatically operated drop leg in .connection with the back, whichserves to support the outer end portion of the back when the back ishorizontally disposed to act as a part of the bed.

The various objects and features .of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typicalpreferred form and application of the invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the .ac- ,companying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view illustratingthe structure of the presentinvention as a chair. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional viewillustrating the mechanism of the present "invention being a view takensubstantially as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetailed sectional view of one part of the structure, being a view takenas indicated by line .3--3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlar ed .detailedsectional view of the :springlatch shown in Fig. 2. .Fig. 4 is .a-viewsimilar to Fig. 11 showing the structure in the term of a bed. Fig. 15is a view similar to Fig. .2, showing the structure in the otherposition or in the ,form shown in :Fig. 4, and :Fig. =6 is .an en'-E-larged, detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated byline*6.6 on Fig.5.

The construction "that I have provided involves primarily threeprincipal parts, namely a main or center part A, a front extension 13,and aback C. The center section A is formed primarilyof a rectangularbase supported at thedesired height and having vertical extensions ateither side, which form the arms of the chair, as shown in Fig. -1. Thefront extension B is, in effect,"a rectangular panel shiftable between afolded or Vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1, where it forms thefront of the chair, and an extended or horizontal position as shown inFig. '4, where it forms a horizontal continuation of the seat portion ofthe center section. The back C is a rectangular frame-like structureoperable between an up position where it extends upward and somewhatrearward from the rear portion of the center section to form the back ofthechair, as shown in Fig. 1, and a horizontal position where it forms:a continuation of the seat of the center section, as shown in Fig. 4.

In addition to the general or principal parts hereinabove named theconstruction that I have provided involves means Ill pivotallyconnecting the extension B to the center section A, means H pivotallyconnecting the back C with the-center section A, means 12 supporting theouter end of the back when it is in the horizontal position, means i3normally-releasably holding the means l2 in a folded or collapsedposition, as shown in Fig. '2, means 14 operable to release the latch asthe back is lowered to the horizontal position; means :I 5interconnecting the extension and back so they work together .or inunison, latch means it normally releasably holding the parts in positiontof-orm a chair, as shown in Fig. .2, and ,a control means H forreleasing the latch 16.

The :center section A of the structure, which is the main or principalelement to which :the other parts are attached, involves primarily amain frame which is substantially rectangular inform and which involvesside rails 20, a front rail 2| joining-the front ends of the :siderails, and a rearrail 22 joining the :rear ends of the side rails. Theframe formed by the .severalrails just mentioned :is supported at asuitable height above the front and in a horizontal position by means oflegs .23 located at the corners of the frame. The legs preferablyproject upward "above the frame toformQcjorner posts .24 at the cornersof the. :frame and stop rails 25 extend substam .tiaily parallel with=the-side5tai1s :29 between .the

upper ends of the posts 24. The posts 24 and top rails 25 form thefoundation or frame structure for sides S of the chair, as shown inFig. 1. It is to be understood, of course, that the frame constructionformed by the posts and top rails can be supplemented by other frameconstruction, as may be necessary depending upon the chair design, andthat the structure thus formed can be covered with suitable padding 26and facing or covering 21, as may be desired.

The main frame formed by the rails 29, 2! and 22, as above described,acts as the main frame of a chair to carry a spring base or platform 28on which is supported a suitable cushion or seat 29. In the drawings Ihave indicated a typical chair construction wherein the plat formconstruction carried by the frame involves helical springs and asuitable pad supported on the springs. The seat cushion 29 may be of anysuitable construction, that is, it can be a mere pad or it can be aspring pad in the manner common to chair construction. The seat cushionin general is a rectangular cushion fitting between the sides S of thechair and extending to the front of the chair and to a suitable pointbetween the rear portions of the sides S, that is, to a point where itjoins the back C as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In practice theseat cushion 29 may be fastened to or formed as a part of the platformsupported by the frame, or it may be a detachable cushion such as isordinarily employed in a chair of the general type illustrated.

The 'front extension B is a rectangular framelike element in the natureof a flap located at the front of the main section A to be movable froma collapsed or folded position where it is vertically disposed, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, and an extended or horizontal position, as shown inFigs. 4 and 5.

The front extension may be of simple construction involving arectangular frame 30, a pad 3| at one side of the frame, that is, at theside which forms the front of the extension or the top of the extension,as the case may be, and a cover 32 over the pad. The pad 3| of the frontextension may, if desired, be spring reinforced or it may be a simplepad, as shown in the drawings, made sufliciently thick to form asatisfactory extension of the seat cushion when the structure is used asa bed, as shown in Fig. 4.

In the particular design illustrated the rectangular frame-likestructure of the front extension B fits between the front legs of themain section A and engages under the forward end portion of the cushion29, so that when it is positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it appearsas the front of the main section A. To properly accommodate theextension B the front rail 2! of the main frame is set a suitabledistance from the extreme forward faces of the front legs.

The means l pivotally connecting sections A and B includes a pivotalconnection at each end of the extension B connecting the extension withthe front posts 24 of the section A. Each pivotal connection includes aU-shaped hinge bracket 34 having the forward end of its lower leg fixedto the end of the extension B at 35 to project rearwardly from theextension when the extension is in the horizontal position, as shown inFig. 4, and having the forward end of its upper leg attached to post 24by a pivot pin 35. The bracket 34 is shaped and proportioned and isconnected to the extension and to the frame so that when the extensionis folded in or is in the vertical position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,its upper end is immediately below the forward end portion of the seatcushion 29 whereas when the extension is in the extended or horizontalposition, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the said end is immediatelyadjacent the forward end of the seat cushion.

The back C is a suitably shaped and padded element preferablysubstantially rectangular in shape and padded to form an effective,comfortable back for the chair, as shown in Fig. 1, and rest orextension of the seat cushion 29 as shown in Fig. 4. In the preferredconstruction the back C includes a frame substantially rectangular inform carrying suitable padding 4| covered by a suitable cover 42. Thelower or imier end portion of the back C fits between the sides S of thecenter section A and is pivotally connected to the center section A bythe means I l The means ll includes a pivotal connection at each side oredge of the back where it fits between the sides S and, in practice,each connection may include a plate 43 fixed to the side of or edge ofthe back and a pivot pin 44 projecting from a rear post of the mainframe and pivotally engaging the plate. The pivotal axis of the pivotpin 44 is removed somewhat from the extreme end 45 of the back and islocated vertically so that when the back is in the extended position, asshown in Fig. 4, its top or forward face X joins and extendshorizontally from the top of the seat cushion 29. When the back is up,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the end 45 is located a substantial distancebelow the top of the seat cushion which is desirable in that it allowsfor the seat cushion to be depressed a substantial amount withoutpassing below the back.

The means l2 provided for supporting the outer end of the back when itis in the horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 4, includes a drop leg46 pivotally connected to the outer or upper portion of the back. In thepreferred construction the frame of the back has a cross member 56located across it at a point spaced a substantial distance below the topof the frame so that there is a recess 5| in the upper end portion ofthe back at its rear side. The drop leg is in the form of a panel thatnormally occupies the recess when the back is up, as shown in Figs. 1and 2, so that the rear side 52 of the drop leg forms a continuoussurface with the back surface 53 of the main portion of the back. Thepanel-like leg 46 is pivotally connected to the frame part defining theupper end of the recess by a hinge 56, and it is free to swing or dropdown to a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 4. A suitable tie such asa stop chain or the like 51 may be provided to limit the rearwardmovement of the drop leg as it swings down.

The latch means I 3 provided to normally yieldingly hold the drop leg inthe recess 5| may include a spring latch, such as is shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, carried by the cross member of the back frame to hold theleg in the recess 5f, as shown in the drawings. A stop bar 5 I on theframe of the back limits inward movement of the leg in the recess 5 I.

The means I4 provided for automatically releasing the latch I 3 when theback is lowered may involve a line or cord having one end attached tothe latch and the other end attached to a suitable part of the frame ofsection A. The line 60 is arranged over a fixed stop 6| located withreference to the axis of the pivot pins 44 so thatthe line 60 isput-under strain or is pulled. .as the back is lowered, thus causing thelatch to be operated as the back is lowered. A tension sprint-3:63 ispreferably included in theline 60 to prevent overstraining of the linein the-course'of the operation just described.

The :means .55 provided to interconnect the back C and'the extension Bso that they work or move together may involve a mechanism at eitherside of the structure connecting the back with the extension or theremay be two units of such mechanism, one at each side of the structure.Each unit of the connecting means It may include a connecting bar Islidab'ly mounted in a horizontally disposed guideway H in a horizontal:frame part 72 extending between front and rear posts 24, a forward link73 connecting the con- .necting bar with a hinge bracket, and a; rearBlink 1.4 connecting the bar In with the frame of the-back. Theconnecting bar 10 :may bea simple elongate bar mounted in the guidewayill to :slide or reciprocate between the positions shown in Figs. .2 and5 of the drawings. The forward .link T3 is pivoted at Bil to the forwardend of the bar and at 8! to the hinge bracket :34, the point of pivotalconnection Bl being somewhat below the axis of the pivot pin 35 whichconnects the bracket 34 to the post 24. The rear link 14 is pivotallyconnected at-82 to the rear end of the connecting bar 80 and thelinkextends from the connecting bar to the framedt of the back where itis pivotally connected by a pivot pin 85. The parts are arranged andproportioned so that the pivotal connection 85 is spaced a substantialdistance below the axis of pivotal connection of the back to the centersection A, or in other words, below the pivot pins 44 and when the partsare in position to form a chair, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. the rearlink l4 extends upward and forward from the pivot connection 85 to thepoint where it connects to the rear end of the connecting bar Hi. As theback swings down from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig.4 the pivotal connection 85 moves forward and up, causing the link 14 tobe forced forward, thus causing the connecting bar 10 to becorrespondingly moved forward. The forward movement of the connectingbar 18 causes the forward link I3 to be moved forward, which in turnswings the bracket 34 forward, causing the front extension B to be swungup to the position shown in Fig. 4. When the back is moved up from theposition shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 1 the reverse operationoccurs, that is, the link 14 is moved down and rearward so that theconnecting bar H! is moved rearward carrying with it the link 13 whichin turn moves the bracket 34 carrying the extension B.

The latch 16 serves to catch and retain the parts in the position inwhich they form a chair, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The latch means, asshown, involves a pivoted dog or latch member 90 supported by a suitablebracket 9| and arranged to cooperate with ratchet teeth 92 provided inthe connecting bar Ill. A spring 93 normally yieldingly urges the latch90 to a position to cooperate with the ratchet teeth and the ratchetteeth are located so that as the structure approaches the chair positionthe teeth are engaged by the latch holding it against return to the bedposition. In the arrangement illustrated the spring 93 has one endconnected to the frame and the other end to arm 94 of a pivoted rocker,the other arm 95 of which is connected to the latch 90 by a connectinglink 96. The control means ill ornament such as atassel, as shown in thedraw.- ings. From the foregoing description :it will be apparent thatwhen the structure is in the chair position, as shown in Figs. .1 and 2,the latch it effectively holds it in that position and the structureforms a comfortable, conventional type of chair. When it is desired toform a bed it is merely'necessary to release the latch Ill through themeans i! and then depress the back C to-the horizontal position, in thecourse of which.operation th back-C releases the latch l3 and the support 12 drops to operating position .at the same time that theconnecting means l5 operates the extension B from the position shown inFig. i to that shown in Fig. 4. When the parts are extended, as shown inFig. 4, the structure forms .a comfortable couch or :bed, since the seatcushion of the center section, the extension 13 and the back cooperateto form one continuous horizontal surface. It will be apparent from theforegoing description that the severalparts that .I have described canbe constructed with suitable padding so that they form a comfortable,convenient bed. It is also to be noted that the latch means 16, byincluding a number of ratchet teeth 92 allows the back to be set atdifferent angles to suit the wishes of the user, and that if the back isset at an appreciable angle the front extension will be extendedsomewhat, with the result that the structure forms a comfortablereclining chair including the front extension as a foot rest.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variationsor modifications that may appear to those sklled in the art and fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a center section including aframe carrying a seat and having arms at the sides of the seat, a frontextension pivotally connected to the center section and operable betweena folded position forming a front for the center section and an extendedposition forming a continuation of the seat, a back pivotally connectedto the center section and operable between an up position where it formsa back for the seat and a down position where it forms a continuation ofthe seat, and means connecting the extension and back so they operatetogether, a folding support for the back hinged thereto to depend fromthe back when it is down and to fold against the back when it is up, areleasable latch for holding the said support to the back when the backis up, and means operating to release the latch as the back is movedfrom the up position to the down position.

2. In a device of the character described, a center section including aframe carrying a seat and having arms at the sides of the seat, a frontextension pivotally connected to the center section and operable betweena folded position forming a front for the center section and an extendedposition forming a continuation of the seat, a back pivotally connectedto the center section on a transverse pivotal axis and operable betweenan up position where it forms a back for the seat and a down positionwhere it forms a continuation of the seat, and means connecting theextension and back so they operate together including a connecting barslidably supported by the center section above said axis, a link havingone end pivotally connected to the bar and the other end pivotallyconnected to the extension at av point below its point of pivotalconnection with the center section, and a link having one end pivotallyconnected to the bar and having its other end pivotally connected to theback at a point below its point of pivotal connection with the centersection.

3. In a device of the character described, a center section including aframe carrying a seat and having arms at the sides of the seat, a frontextension pivotally connected to the center section and operable betweena folded position forming a front for the center section and an extendedposition forming a continuation of the seat, a back pivotally connectedto the center section and operable between an up position where it formsa back for the seat and a down position where it forms a continuation ofthe seat, and means connecting the extension and back so they operatetogether and including a connecting bar mounted to slide horizontally ateach side of the 8 center section and located above said axis and a linkat each end of each bar, the link at the rear end of each bar extendingdownwardly and rearwardly from the bar and connecting directly to theback at a point below said axis, and the link at the forward end of eachbar extending downward and forward from the bar to the extension.

JOHN E. VAN CAMIP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 118,368 Hubbard Aug. 22, 1871166,566 Squires Aug. 10, 1875 246,556 Reich Aug. 30, 1881 470,251Morrison Mar. 8, 1892 607,538 Bergman July 19, 1898 682,119 SeibertSept. 3, 1901 791,295 Sennett May 30, 1905 792,207 Francis June 13, 1905911,205 Campbell Feb. 2, 1909 941,555 Berzon Nov. 30, 1909 2,233,797Potter Mar. 4, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 122,691 GermanyJuly 20, 1901 679,644 France Jan. 13, 1930

